Help? Unidentified wire/3-prong plug in front end.

[Jbahr]

So to make a really long story short, I searched all over for the perfect TE with KDSS and no nav back in the beginning of this year. I finally found one in Virgina, pulled the trigger and, no joke... almost 2 months later it finally gets here. Out of state purchases blow btw... She came with Shrockworks Sliders already installed and I figured she was used slightly offroad. With a clean bill of CarFax, a Certified Pre Owned tag, and only 8,000 miles I figured it was okay.

When I got the car and subsequently started exploring I immediately started noticing some odd things about my new ride. First the front end seems strangely lower than other stock TE's I see on here and SR5's I see in person. I chalk this up to my imagination and forget about it, all will be solved with a new suspension soon enough.

Second the steel cover over the KDSS lines where they cross the mid-body frame was bent down noticeably. After further inspection this was an easy fix, floor jack + weight of vehicle = back in place, no kinked lines.

Next was that there were a number of front lights out. After some digging I found they where just disconnected. Strange, I thought, but oh well now they work at no cost to me...

Anyway I have a full list of mods, some already accomplished between March when I bought her and now and over the period of the next year or so I will have my silver TE exactly how I want her.

Today while tackling the new horn install I ran into something though that I had to share. All the while I have suspected that maybe this ride has had an aftermarket bumper on her before, which might explain the front end sag, the disconnected lights and my new discovery... see below. There is a 3 pronged plug zip tied to an A/C line in the front end. Why... I don't know? The wire is heat shielded and passes back through the engine compartment and down, and terminates into the alternator? Can someone identify what this is for? Is it stock? Is it for a winch?

Also I realize now that this could be one of the users on this forum, if so I would like to know and just have more knowledge of the vehicle's history.

Thoughts?

 

[Ducmonsta]

Looks like a block heater. More commonly used in diesel engines.

 

[Scuba6]

Also I realize now that this could be one of the users on this forum, if so I would like to know and just have more knowledge of the vehicle's history.

Thoughts?

Did the truck already have the stubby antenna?? It's a sure sign that the truck once belonged to a forum member. :lmao:

 

[Y2KSR5]

Yea, its a block heater. When I lived in North Dakota that was a requirement. You wont be needing it in TX. Lol

 

[Jbahr]

I did the antenna...

Looks like the Block Heater is the answer. Thanks Ducmonsta!

Anyone get rid of a 2010 Silver TE w/KDSS and no nav last year or early this year and had Shrockworks sliders installed. I'd really like to know why someone sold this vehicle and take my mind of the thought that my new baby has some internal flaw that will haunt me in the future...

 

[FERAL 4R]

The KDSS equipped Trail Edition is lower in the front from factory. Mine is like that, and so is every other one out there. No problem.

 

[westwind77]

Am I missing something? I did not think our 4R's came with a block heater, not even as an option. The last SUV I bought had it....as an option. Does the Canadian model have it?

 

[Jbahr]

I vaguely remember seeing in the vehicle history report that this TE was originally purchased in Montana. I don't know if it was a special order, but it does appear that it is an option. More than likely it was a special order, I know TE's with KDSS and not nav are not normal.

 

[harper7]

Double check.....Are you sure that the plug wires up direct to the alternator.Not that clear in the pic.Doesn't make sense. The alternator is not putting out electricity unless the belt is turning it's pulley.

I've seen them where you take a freeze plug out and put the heater in the water jacket,which is down by the alternator, on the block and put one in there. Plug it into external AC to keep it warm.

I think some Canadian 4Runners had a block heater as an option.

 

[dekeman]

Correct, block heater an option on all Canadian 4Rs. Plug and cord looks exactly the same, and insulation makes sense. Even though it looks like it goes to the alternator, my bet is it goes past it, then on to a round port on the side of the block.

While probably useless in Texas, block heaters really are a nice feature anywhere the temperature falls below zero (32F for you imperialists).

You can also test it: Put the truck in an extremely quiet area (like a garage with door shut), open the hood, and plug it in. You will hear a very slight noise, almost like an electric kettle warming up.

 

[DarkHelmet]

I vaguely remember seeing in the vehicle history report that this TE was originally purchased in Montana. I don't know if it was a special order, but it does appear that it is an option. More than likely it was a special order, I know TE's with KDSS and not nav are not normal.

TE's with KDSS and not NAV are pretty common here in the West but not so much in the East. In fact, Most of the TE's that I looked at when shopping had KDSS and no NAV, which is what I wanted and got.

As for a block heater - the dealer in Billings, MT had a TE with KDSS, no NAV and a block heater installed. They said they install them on ALL of the T4R's. We ended up getting a Mag Gray TE with KDSS and no NAV from the dealer in Bozeman, MT instead and it did not have a block heater.

DH

 

[Jtraskell]

Correct, block heater an option on all Canadian 4Rs. Plug and cord looks exactly the same, and insulation makes sense. Even though it looks like it goes to the alternator, my bet is it goes past it, then on to a round port on the side of the block.

While probably useless in Texas, block heaters really are a nice feature anywhere the temperature falls below zero (32F for you imperialists).

You can also test it: Put the truck in an extremely quiet area (like a garage with door shut), open the hood, and plug it in. You will hear a very slight noise, almost like an electric kettle warming up.

Not to pick bones, but for the sake of accuracy, us "imperialists" really do not need a block heater until the temps are below "0" for weeks at a time. And even then, with current Syn Oil, not sure it is such an advantage now.

 

[cucumber pie]

It's part of the hybrid system with your KDHS (kinda deceiving hybrid system) plug it in when it gets cold outside it helps keep the batteries warm.